Sri Lankan troops enter the Tamil Tiger stronghold of Kilinochchi. Sri Lanka's military says it is moving in on the jungle stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels, in a final assault aimed at ending the longest-running ethnic war in Asia. (AFP/HO)Sri Lanka Says It Has Seized Jaffna Peninsula -- AP
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan government forces seized a final strip of Tamil Tiger rebel-held land Wednesday, securing total control of the key Jaffna peninsula in the north, the military said.
Jaffna, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka's ethnic minority Tamils, has long been seen as the symbolic heart of the 25-year-old separatist insurgency on the island. Taking full control of the territory after nine years is a strategic and symbolic victory for the government.
Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said all of Jaffna was secured when the soldiers captured Chundikkulam village. Last week, troops captured the Elephant Pass base, the insurgents' final stronghold on the peninsula.
Nanayakkara said the rebels retreated with their dead and the military did not suffer any casualties.
Rebel officials could not be reached for comment.
Read more ....
Army 'completes Jaffna takeover' -- BBC
Sri Lankan Military Seizes Jaffna from Rebels -- Voice Of America
Sri Lankan troops take entire Jaffna peninsula -- Colombo Page
Sri Lankan troops flush Tigers from Jaffna, bury 41 unclaimed bodies -- AFP
Sri Lankan troops capture last strip of rebel land in Jaffna -- China View
Sri Lank
Jaffna, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka's ethnic minority Tamils, has long been seen as the symbolic heart of the 25-year-old separatist insurgency on the island. Taking full control of the territory after nine years is a strategic and symbolic victory for the government.
Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said all of Jaffna was secured when the soldiers captured Chundikkulam village. Last week, troops captured the Elephant Pass base, the insurgents' final stronghold on the peninsula.
Nanayakkara said the rebels retreated with their dead and the military did not suffer any casualties.
Rebel officials could not be reached for comment.
Read more ....
More War News Updates On Sri Lanka
Army 'completes Jaffna takeover' -- BBC
Sri Lankan Military Seizes Jaffna from Rebels -- Voice Of America
Sri Lankan troops take entire Jaffna peninsula -- Colombo Page
Sri Lankan troops flush Tigers from Jaffna, bury 41 unclaimed bodies -- AFP
Sri Lankan troops capture last strip of rebel land in Jaffna -- China View
Sri Lank
Rebel officials could not be reached for comment.
Read more ....
Army 'completes Jaffna takeover' -- BBC
Sri Lankan Military Seizes Jaffna from Rebels -- Voice Of America
Sri Lankan troops take entire Jaffna peninsula -- Colombo Page
Sri Lankan troops flush Tigers from Jaffna, bury 41 unclaimed bodies -- AFP
Sri Lankan troops capture last strip of rebel land in Jaffna -- China View
Sri Lanka: Key rebel land seized after 9 years of conflict -- Detroit Free Press/AP
Nearly 800 flee Sri Lanka's war zone -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Row over Sri Lanka editor's murder grows as diplomat censured -- Yahoo News/AFP
Read more ....
More War News Updates On Sri Lanka
Army 'completes Jaffna takeover' -- BBC
Sri Lankan Military Seizes Jaffna from Rebels -- Voice Of America
Sri Lankan troops take entire Jaffna peninsula -- Colombo Page
Sri Lankan troops flush Tigers from Jaffna, bury 41 unclaimed bodies -- AFP
Sri Lankan troops capture last strip of rebel land in Jaffna -- China View
Sri Lanka: Key rebel land seized after 9 years of conflict -- Detroit Free Press/AP
Nearly 800 flee Sri Lanka's war zone -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Row over Sri Lanka editor's murder grows as diplomat censured -- Yahoo News/AFP